"Canopy goanna The canopy goanna (""Varanus keithhornei"") is a species of monitor lizards native to northeast Australia. It is also known as the blue-nosed tree monitor, Keith Horne's monitor, or occasionally as the Nesbit River monitor It belongs to the subgenus ""Euprepiosaurus"" and is a member of the ""Varanus prasinus"" species group. This monitor lizard is found in a restricted range near the Nesbit River, or in the McIlwraith or Iron Mountain Ranges on the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland. The colouration of ""V. keithhornei"" is dark black on the upper side. It has moderately big and smooth head"
"toxin-producing glands. The goanna's hefty tail can be dangerous when swung, much like a crocodile's tail; small children and dogs have been knocked down by such attacks. Often, victims in goanna attacks are bystanders, watching the person antagonising the goanna. Alarmed goannas can mistake standing humans for trees and attempt to climb off the ground to safety, which is understandably painful, as well as distressing for the human. Goannas are protected species throughout Australia. Goannas have a prominent place in the culture of indigenous Australians. This includes totemic and stories relationships, anthropomorphic representations in dreamtime stories, and as a food"
"Goannas are found throughout most of Australia, except for Tasmania, and manage to persist in a variety of environments. Most species are known to climb trees or outcrops; several primarily arboreal species are known. The lace monitor (""V. varius"") is probably the best-known among these, but is not the most common. The lace monitor is the second-largest of all goannas, reaching lengths of up to 2 m. Other more common tree goannas, such as the Timor tree monitor (""V. timorensis"") and mournful tree monitor (""V. tristis"",) do not grow to quite such lengths, averaging a maximum of 61 cm, nose-to-tail."
"Other goannas are adapted to swampy coastal environments, such as the mangrove goanna (""V. semiremex""). Further still, the Mertens' water monitor (water goanna – ""V. mertensi""), found in lagoons and rivers across northern Australia, is streamlined for swimming, using its tail as a paddle. Most other goannas are good swimmers, but tend not to voluntarily venture into the water. The diets of goannas vary greatly depending on the species and the habitat. Prey can include all manner of small animals: insects, smaller lizards, snakes, mammals, birds, and eggs. Meals are often eaten whole, thus the size of their meals may"
"Pogona Pogona is a genus of reptiles containing eight lizard species (according to some sources, but some others say nine) which are often known by the common name bearded dragons. The name ""bearded dragon"" refers to the ""beard"" of the dragon, the underside of the throat which can turn black if they are stressed or see a potential rival. They are adept climbers, spending significant amounts of time on branches and in bushes and near human habitation. ""Pogona"" species bask on rocks and exposed branches in the mornings and afternoons. They are found throughout much of Australia in a wide"
"country include the Australian magpie, Australian raven, the pied currawong, crested pigeons and the laughing kookaburra. The koala, emu, platypus and kangaroo are national animals of Australia, and the Tasmanian devil is also one of the well-known animals in the country. The goanna is a predatory lizard native to the Australian mainland. The birds of New Zealand evolved into an avifauna that included a large number of endemic species. As an island archipelago New Zealand accumulated bird diversity and when Captain James Cook arrived in the 1770s he noted that the bird song was deafening. The mix includes species with"
"goanna oil as an important bush medicine, and it also became a common medicine among Caucasians in Australia's early days. Said to be a cure-all, and possessing amazing powers of penetration (passing through metal as if it were not there), it was sold among early settlers like snake oil in the Old West of North America. A goanna features as the heroic figure ‘Mr Lizard’ in the Australian author May Gibbs’ children’s books Snugglepot and Snugglepie. A bronze statue of the goanna ‘Mr Lizard’ has been placed outside the State Library of Victoria. Goanna A goanna is any of several"
"can be attributed to the continent's long geographic isolation, tectonic stability, and the effects of an unusual pattern of climate change on the soil and flora over geological time. Australia and its territories are home to around 800 species of bird; 45% of these are endemic to Australia. Predominant bird species in Australia include the Australian magpie, Australian raven, the pied currawong, crested pigeons and the laughing kookaburra. The koala, emu, platypus and kangaroo are national animals of Australia, and the Tasmanian devil is also one of the well-known animals in the country. The goanna is a predatory lizard native"
"in the soil. Perentie The perentie (""Varanus giganteus"") is the largest monitor lizard or goanna native to Australia, and the fourth-largest living lizard on earth, after the Komodo dragon, Asian water monitor, and the crocodile monitor. Found west of the Great Dividing Range in the arid areas of Australia, it is rarely seen because of its shyness and the remoteness of much of its range from human habitation. Its status in many Aboriginal cultures is evident in the totemic relationships, and part of the Ngiṉṯaka dreaming, as well as bush tucker. It was a favoured food item among desert Aboriginal"
"Lace monitor The lace monitor or lace goanna (""Varanus varius"") is a member of the monitor lizard family, Australian members of which are commonly known as goannas. It belongs to the subgenus ""Varanus"". Lace monitors are the second-largest monitor in Australia after the perentie. They can be as long as 2.1 m (over 6.8 ft) with a head-and-body length of up to 76.5 cm (2.5 ft). The tail is long and slender and about 1.5 times the length of the head and body. The maximum weight of lace monitor can be 20 kg (44 lb), but most adults are much"
"Megalania Megalania (""Megalania prisca"" or ""Varanus priscus"") is an extinct giant goanna or monitor lizard. They were part of a megafaunal assemblage that inhabited southern Australia during the Pleistocene. The youngest fossil remains date to around 50,000 years ago. The first aboriginal settlers of Australia might have encountered them and been a factor in their extinction. The name ""Megalania prisca"" was coined in 1859 by Sir Richard Owen to mean ""ancient great roamer""; the name was chosen ""in reference to the terrestrial nature of the great Saurian"". Owen used a modification of the Greek word ἠλαίνω ""ēlainō"" (""I roam""). The"
"Perentie The perentie (""Varanus giganteus"") is the largest monitor lizard or goanna native to Australia, and the fourth-largest living lizard on earth, after the Komodo dragon, Asian water monitor, and the crocodile monitor. Found west of the Great Dividing Range in the arid areas of Australia, it is rarely seen because of its shyness and the remoteness of much of its range from human habitation. Its status in many Aboriginal cultures is evident in the totemic relationships, and part of the Ngiṉṯaka dreaming, as well as bush tucker. It was a favoured food item among desert Aboriginal tribes, and the"
"known living species of monotreme occur in Australia: the platypus and the short-beaked echidna. The platypus — a venomous, egg-laying, duck-billed, amphibious mammal — is one of the strangest creatures in the animal kingdom. When a platypus pelt was first presented by Joseph Banks to English naturalists in the late 18th century, they were convinced it must be a cleverly created hoax. Another strange monotreme is the short-beaked echidna; covered in hairy spikes, with a tubular snout in the place of a mouth, it has a tongue that can move in and out of the snout about 100 times per"
"not exist, misleads in the assessment of medical risks, and confuses the biological assessment of squamate biochemical systems"". Lace monitor The lace monitor or lace goanna (""Varanus varius"") is a member of the monitor lizard family, Australian members of which are commonly known as goannas. It belongs to the subgenus ""Varanus"". Lace monitors are the second-largest monitor in Australia after the perentie. They can be as long as 2.1 m (over 6.8 ft) with a head-and-body length of up to 76.5 cm (2.5 ft). The tail is long and slender and about 1.5 times the length of the head and"
"Papurana Papurana is a genus of frogs in the family Ranidae, ""true frogs"". They are known from New Guinea, some nearby islands, and northern Australia. ""Papurana daemeli"" is the only ranid frog found in Australia. ""Papurana"" was originally introduced as a subgenus of ""Rana"". It was often included in the then-diverse genus ""Hylarana"", until Oliver and colleagues revised the genus in 2015, delimiting ""Hylarana"" more narrowly and elevating ""Papurana"" to genus rank. The unique combination of characters that can diagnose ""Papurana"" is presence of a postocular eye mask, robust body shape, posterior of thighs having strong vermiculations, and dorsolateral folds"
"the Far north Coast of New South Wales and the Dirawong's totem symbol is the 'Goanna' What exactly is the Dirawong? Reducing the Dirawong's complex features into a formal description, will be limited to a general view or understanding of the Goanna's characteristics. Therefore, the most relevant attributes will be analysed in the light of Aboriginal traditions Although its appearance may differ slightly, it retains similar features and stories and two particular characteristics that remain the same throughout is; its gender is not agreed upon and it is linked to Goannas', Birds, Snakes, ethics, food, land, medicines, morals, rain, social"
"Longana (legendary creature) The Longana is a legendary aquatic creature of the feminine gender. The Longana appear in legends of the people living in Cadore, Italy. According to the legend, these creatures live in groups, either in coves or near cliffs. They are similar to legends like that of the Faun as they have inferior limbs of goats. They are also depicted as intelligent and beautiful women, and they regularly converse with spirits, which explains their extraordinary knowledge of natural events. One myth tells how one of the Longana women had decided to intermix with a man, and they eventually"
"source. Representations of goannas are common in indigenous artwork, not just as food, but also as a symbolic spiritual motif. Goannas and the mighty perentie are often considered two different animals when used in aboriginal works, as illustrated by the story ""How the Goanna and Perentie got their Colours"". European settlers perpetuated several old wives' tales about goanna habits and abilities; some of these have persisted in modern folklore among campers and bushmen. This includes the above-mentioned exaggeration of goannas dragging off sheep from shepherds' flocks in the night. These might even be exaggerated into child-snatching, rivalling drop bears (attack"
"people represented by 15 Australian Aboriginal tribes, within which are many groups, clans and bands) call the spiritual creature ""The Dirawong"" (goanna). It is the spiritual centre of their culture. Within its landscape are many sacred, secret, and ceremonial sites. To date some 24 archaeological sites have been located on Goanna Headland to the south of Evans Head Village. Nine sites have also been identified within the Broadwater National Park, which are of aboriginal cultural significance. We can count ourselves fortunate that some of the ancient Aboriginal languages and dreaming tales of the Northern Rivers region and South East Queensland"
"could last days or several months and women hunt and collect food during the voyage. All animals, birds, insects, reptiles, plants and other life forms, including man, are part of nature, it is only outward forms that are different Goannas feature prominently in the mythology and culture of Bundjalung Nation Aboriginals and Australian folklore. This included totemic relationships, anthropomorphic representations in Dreamtime stories, and as a source of food and medicine Representations of goannas are common in Bundjalung Nation artwork, not just as food, but also as a symbolic spiritual motif European settlers perpetuated several old wives' tales about goanna"
"Brolga The brolga (""Antigone rubicunda""), formerly known as the native companion, is a bird in the crane family. It has also been given the name Australian crane, a term coined in 1865 by well-known ornithological artist John Gould in his ""Birds of Australia"". The brolga is a common, gregarious wetland bird species of tropical and south-eastern Australia and New Guinea. It is a tall, upright bird with a small head, long beak, slender neck and long legs. The plumage is mainly grey, with black wing tips, and it has an orange-red band of colour on its head. It is well"
"Australian wood duck The Australian wood duck, maned duck or maned goose (""Chenonetta jubata"") is a dabbling duck found throughout much of Australia. It is the only living species in the genus Chenonetta. Traditionally placed in the subfamily Anatinae (dabbling ducks), it might belong to the subfamily Tadorninae (shelducks); the ringed teal may be its closest living relative. The Australian wood duck was first described by the English ornithologist John Latham in 1801 under the binomial name ""Anas jubata"". The flightless New Zealand species ""Chenonetta finschi"" (Finsch's duck) which was formerly believed to constitute a monotypic genus (""Euryanas"") has been"
"Pygmy mulga monitor The pygmy mulga monitor or stripe-tailed goanna (""Varanus gilleni"" ) is a species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is native to northwestern and central Australia. The specific name, ""gilleni"", is in honor of Australian anthropologist Francis James Gillen. The pygmy mulga monitor is arboreal, with a prehensile tail. It grows to a total length of around , of which is tail. The upper surface is brown, grading to grey at the sides. The nostrils are positioned on the sides of the muzzle, about halfway between the tip of the snout and the eye."
"in Australia, feeding on sea grass in coastal areas. The destruction of sea grass beds is a threat to the survival of this species. Eleven species of seal—family Pinnipedia—live off the southern coast. Australia and its territories are home to around 800 species of bird; 45% of these are endemic to Australia. The fossil record of birds in Australia is patchy; however, there are records of the ancestors of contemporary species as early as the Late Oligocene. Birds with a Gondwanan history include the flightless ratites (the emu and southern cassowary), megapodes (the malleefowl and Australian brush-turkey), and a huge"
"Pilbara region of Western Australia. Details about the behavior of ""Varanus bushi"" are relatively unknown. Pilbara monitor The Pilbara monitor (""Varanus bushi"" ), also known as Bush's monitor, is a species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is endemic to Australia. The specific name, ""bushi"", and the common name, Bush's monitor, are in honor of Australian naturalist and herpetologist Brian Gordon Bush (born 1947). ""Varanus bushi"" belongs to the subgenus ""Odatria"". ""Varanus bushi"" is most similar to the stripe-tailed goanna and the pygmy Mulga goanna of all monitor lizards. However, the Pilbara monitor can be distinguished from"
"a number of dead or alive animals, including metamorphic crucifix toads, snakes, lizards, and birds. On some occasions, swarms of workers have been found on dead foxes. The meat ant is the only known ant in Australia that feeds on fresh guano. The collection of guano by a nearby meat ant colony shows the opportunistic nature of the species. Observations show that trails of workers in groups of two to four were found collecting the guano under an active bat roost within an abandoned mine and proceeded to return it to the nest. The collection of guano by any Australian"
"species and 31 species of insectivorous blind snake. There are more than 700 species of lizards in Australia with representatives of five families. There are over 130 species in 20 genera of gecko found throughout the Australian continent. The Pygopodidae is a family of limbless lizards endemic to the Australian region; all 39 species from seven genera occur in Australia. The Agamidae or dragon lizards are represented by 70 species in 14 genera, including the thorny devil, bearded dragon and frill-necked lizard. There are 30 species of monitor lizard, family Varanidae, in Australia, where they are commonly known as goannas."
"Giant grouper The giant grouper (""Epinephelus lanceolatus""), also known as the brindlebass, brown spotted cod, or bumblebee grouper, and as the Queensland groper in Australia, is the largest bony fish found in coral reefs, and the aquatic emblem of Queensland. It is found from near the surface to depths of at reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific region, with the exception of the Persian Gulf. It also enters estuaries, such as the lowermost part of the Brisbane River. It reaches up to in length and in weight. Giant groupers feed on a variety of marine life, including small sharks and juvenile sea"
"response from a potential rival or mate. Another typical behaviour is head-bobbing amongst males, perhaps related to dominance within their social order. They are often seen basking on fence posts. Pogona minor Pogona minor is a species of agamid lizard from a group commonly known as bearded dragons, and is found on the southwest coast and interior of Western Australia. This taxonomic name includes the widespread type known as western bearded dragon, ""Pogona minor minor"", and the subspecies, ""Pogona minor minima"", confined to the Wallabi Group of islands. ""Pogona minor minor"" lizards are large, 38 cm in length (15 cm"
"Gould stuck with ""S. australis"", ""S. serrator"" became the preferred term over time. ""Australasian gannet"" has been designated as the official common name for the species by the International Ornithologists' Union (IOC). It is also known as Australian gannet, diver (from its plunge-diving), booby, or solan goose, in Australia, and Pacific gannet, tākapu, takapu, tākupu or takupu in New Zealand. The Sulidae, the gannets and boobies, appeared about 30 million years ago. Early Sulidae fossils most resembled the boobies, although they were more aquatic, with the gannets splitting off later, about 16 million years ago. The gannets evolved in the"
"group of endemic parrots, order Psittaciformes. Australian parrots comprise a sixth of the world's parrots, including many cockatoos and galahs. The kookaburra is the largest species of the kingfisher family, known for its call, which sounds uncannily like loud, echoing human laughter. The passerines of Australia, also known as songbirds or perching birds, include wrens, robins, the magpie group, thornbills, pardalotes, the huge honeyeater family, treecreepers, lyrebirds, birds of paradise and bowerbirds. The satin bowerbird has attracted the interest of evolutionary psychologists; it has a complex courtship ritual in which the male creates a bower filled with blue, shiny items"
"rotting meat will attract these lizards. Like most native fauna, goannas are rather wary of human intrusions into their habitat, and will most likely run away (into the scrub, up a tree, or into the water, depending on the species). A goanna is a rather swift mover, and when pressed, will sprint short distances on its hind legs. Goannas also rear up when threatened, either chased or cornered, and also inflate flaps of skin around their throats and emit harsh hissing noises. Some goannas recover from their initial fear of humans, especially when food is involved (or food has been"
"change from month to month. Giant grouper The giant grouper (""Epinephelus lanceolatus""), also known as the brindlebass, brown spotted cod, or bumblebee grouper, and as the Queensland groper in Australia, is the largest bony fish found in coral reefs, and the aquatic emblem of Queensland. It is found from near the surface to depths of at reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific region, with the exception of the Persian Gulf. It also enters estuaries, such as the lowermost part of the Brisbane River. It reaches up to in length and in weight. Giant groupers feed on a variety of marine life, including"